Ask HN: How to rip videos from sites like CNN.com?

3 points

15 years ago

So, my brother is a film maker and I am a computer scientist and we had an idea the other day to make a documentary film about the 2012 US Presidential Election and the role that big business plays in it. Who knows if we will actually complete this. Right now it is just an idea.

What is the best way to rip videos from "streaming only" sites like CNN.com? An example of some footage I'd like to get is:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/07/republican.debate/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

I examined the page with a HTTP Debugger and also viewed source code but could not seem to find the original source URL of the video. I was wondering if it is possible to find the URL of the video somehow and if it is, how?

Thank in advance for any insight you may provide! :-)

Also, it has just crossed my mind that this type of question might not be acceptable here, since you're not really "supposed" to download videos from streaming only sites. If this type of question is not acceptable please politely let me know.

EDIT: I intend to proceed only after obtaining the copyright owners permission.

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